This morning it was fourteen degrees . Hoping to get a few photo ops I headed to Quabbin Park. What was suppose to be a partly cloudy start to the day was completely overcast and dismal, Several deer were bedded in some small pines on the ride in.. I hiked a short distance in Gate 53 with no mammal or bird activity. Had it been a sunny day I was equipped to spend the morning hiking. I left the park around nine and did catch the glimpse of a immature eagle sitting in a oak tree overseeing the water.

Nice Way To End 2012

 

Happy New Year

Absolutely a beautiful morning hiking. With 4/5 inches of fresh soft snow  sure made for quite walking . As soon as I crossed the yellow gate a fresh set of coyote tracks were in the road. With the woods so quite and light wind in my face, the anticipation a photo op was high. Walking was easy and QUITE As I worked my way to the reservoir. I crossed over several different deer tracks ,  one porcupine track and two additional coyote tracks. Just about to the shoreline  when a bald eagle flew out of a hardwood tree then headed for open water. Otters had already came through leaving there tell tail sign. A few mergansers were visible in a small area of open water. I sat and ate my morning snack hoping to maybe see another eagle. Not to be this morning, Hiking back to the truck three deer walked over my foot tracks in the snow. Nut hatchers were abundant in the hardwood trees.
Jim

Does Not Get Better Than This

Otter tracks sliding down to the reservoir

This mornings hike took me along the east side plowed and unplowed roads. I was surprised to hear the crunching of tires in the beginning mile of my hike. Met some folks out participating in the annual bird count. Liking the solitude and quietness with early dawn I took the first un- plowed road. Only walking a short distance I picked up on a dark object moving on the road. Looking through my camera I could see it was a deer. I attempted to close the gap undetected. However the ice crunching under my boots alerted the deer..
Eventually I made my way to the reservoir with only seeing a couple of mallards. Tracks were plentiful this morning with seeing squirrel , rabbit, deer, coyote tracks.-
Jim
                                                                            Coyote Tracks

 Winters grip just about to settle in. With the cold snap coming at the beginning of the week should freeze the coves.

 

 

Yesterday I dropped off the eagle skull and feathers at the MFW office. All were concerned with the loss of an eagle but appreciated the evidence and the information I could provide. The number on the leg band was a Massachusetts band which provided data to the eagles start at Quabbin.

 

 MFW records indicate the eagle chick was banded May 31,2007. It weighed 7.5 lbs and was from the Mt Zion nest.

Jim

 

I passed the gate a little before 7:00 AM. It was poor light, but things would improve with the clear sky and the sun’s rays in the east. There was a dusting of snow, just enough to show any critters that might have crossed the road. The morning start was crisp with the temperature just about 17 degrees. Roaming a number of roads showed an occasional coyote track, one small deer, one moose and one set of bobcat tracks.
In the previous post I shared the finding of where it appeared an eagle was killed. I had reported the eagle feathers to MFW and was asked if I had found any legs bands. I didn't even give the leg band a thought with the initial find.
This day was getting away from me and I wanted to re-visit the eagle site before finishing my hike. Upon returning to the sight and slowing down there was a lot to see. Clearly this was an area that eagles frequented when feeding. Several bones that looked to be a deer, the shell of a painted turtle were lying out in the open. Looking the area completely over showed feathers strewn everywhere. Wanting to be sure I didn’t leave anything behind that might identify the eagle; I started walking a circle around what appeared to be the most feathers. After a short distance there a skull of the eagle laid next to a cattail reed.   I thought, what would be the chances of finding the leg band. Water was only a few yards from the eagle’s last stand. I continued on with my circles and to my surprise lying amongst the swamp grass and weathered reeds was a gold leg band
My days hike would take me twelve plus miles through the eastside woods with no photo opportunities. However, finding the eagle band and being able to provide MFW with factual information made for a good day.
Jim

Quabbin Eastern Shoreline. Low water level.

Bobcat Track

This Sunday morning hike would be a continuation of Saturday. Only two adult eagles flying overhead in the two and a half mile shoreline hike. Otters were plentiful with three playing in a shallow cove on the ice. A short distance later I found where an immature bald eagle did not fare too well. Looking at all the feathers would suggest this was its last stand. Continuing along the shoreline a single otter was pretty inquisitive of me and quite vocal. Leaving the water’s edge I picked up a road back to the truck. I did see a number of coyote scat and one bear scat. A little late for the bear to be out and about. Probably has found some type of food source to keep it active.

 Jim

Two otters playing without a care in the world

 Eagle feathers. One can only guess as to the cause. Clearly larger bones than just the bird. Maybe the eagle was feeding on a deer ( guess) and a coyote challenged the eagle?

 This single otter was clarely taken with the fact I was standing near the cove it wanted to enter.

 

With the low water conditions I decided to walk a section of shore on the eastside. Slowing down and investigating showed tracks of an occasional moose, consistent coyote tracks and one set of bobcat tracks. Wind was blowing pretty hard but that didn't stop the eagles from soaring.
Two double adult s and one single immature on the three and a half mile shoreline walk. To my surprise I rounded the last cove and watched a doe and skipper wading and drinking. I stayed undetected for a minute or so before the deer caught my scent and meandered back up into the woods
Jim
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Bobcat Track In The Sand

 

Almost In The Right Place At The Right Time

I spent the first few hours in Quabbin Park seeing four does before hiking Gate 53 to Rte 9. No photo ops on this gray morning so I headed over to Gate 43. It just starting to spit snow, but figured I would put on a few miles before heading home. If need be I could put my camera in my backpack to keep it dry. I am glad I didn't! Walking in the Shaft 12 road I took the first right and was at waters edge in no time. Was I surprised to see how low the water is. I walked the shoreline heading towards Gate 43 boat launch. Moose and coyote tracks were visible in the mud. I rounded the cove seeing the boat launch in the distance when an eagle flew from a white pine about 100 yards from me. The eagle wasn't flying away but diving straight towards the water. I had the eagle locked in my view finder as it descended . Then a BIG SPLASH. The eagle was in the water thrashing. It stayed in the water for ten to fifteen seconds before flying up onto the shoreline. It stood there pondering for a second before flying off. Unfortunately the view finder showed the eagles talons with nothing in them. Although the event took place well out of camera range I was able to catch some pics

 

 

 

 

 

Gate 43 view from a different angle

In Know What That Chattering Is

This morning hike would take me to a small swamp. I was hoping that maybe I would find a moose  feeding.  No luck. .The waters edge was alive with warblers. Seeing them was the easy part, having them stay still long enough to get a picture was another story.While this was going on .I heard the familiar sound of chatter getting closer to me. Quickly postioning myself and camera I was rewarded with an otter feeding on swamp grass right in front of me never detecting my presence. When the otter retreated back to  other otters feeding ,I crouched down in hopes of staying undetected while anticpicatng where this threesome was traveling. BINGO !  One of the otters had a fish in it's mouth, slid up onto a downed white pine laying in the water.  While taking the pics you could hear the fish bones crunching in the otters mouth. A few branches in the way. Oh well it was  a neat experince.
Jim

This Hawk was an unexpected late summer opportunity. With nearing the end of an Quabbin eastside hike, the morning was uneventful from a photography prospective. A short distance from the gate this  Hawk flew up from some tall grass along the road side and perched on a branch several yards  away. Other than the sun blaring in my face as I took a few pics, the setting was ideal. Still fairly new at my camera skills I was pleased with the result. This was just  one more caption that added “Fuel”to the camera and Quabbin bug. I know the identity of this hawk, does anyone else?

 

A beautiful morning for  hiking in Quabbin Park. I am pleased with my new lens. It was able to catch this  doe feeding. I parked just below Hanks Meadow and hit the trail. Wondering around the many trails  in QP before coming out in the parking lot at the tower.

 

 Walking was pretty quiet as I slowly approached this doe. She wanted no part of getting her pic taken.

. The morning ended with just  about five miles on the ole' hiking shoes

Well I did it !
Through many months of tele-photo lens product research and reviews , I have purchased a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 lens. One of the key factors in the decision was my approach with taking wildlife pictures. The majority of pics are taken early morning. I have the lens attached and have familiarized myself with its features and ready to go. The weekend weather in central MA sounds a bit challenging. Oh well, stay tuned

I attempted hiking this morning in Quabbin Park. About 8:15 AM the rain had slowed to a light mist. Put my pack on and headed out.

I hadn't hiked a half hour and it started to pour out. I had to keep my camera under my jacket on the hussle back to the truck. I was able to get a few pics using my new lens. I am pleased with the first pics. Tomorrow sounds a bit more promising with the weather.

The first photo was taken  this fall.I am looking out towards Hamilton and Nelson Islands.  Low water conditions present good habitat for birds and mammals in search of food. Hiking from gate 30 to this point had given me  a photo op of a seven point buck . As you will see in the deer photo below, it was taken in poor light conditions. My hiking typically starts right at dawns first light. Although this presents consistent photo opportunities, light conditions are a challenge. My current equipment consists of a Canon7d with a 100 – 400 mm 4.5 lens. I have concluded that I really need a 2.8 lens.
Jim

 

The Start With Hiking Quabbin With A Camera

I thought folks might be interested in my frequent hiking excursions in the confines of Quabbin Reservoir while carrying a camera. Several years back I got the digital camera bug and photographing wildlife. I am an amateur at best learning with each outing. I became really hooked on wildlife and hiking Quabbin back in August of 2011. On this particular morning a female cow moose presented my first real “Big” photo opportunity. This experience started my quest with hiking 500 miles over a sixteen month period. I have logged each outing and all photo opportunities that were presented. Over the next months I will share the highlights of the past 500 miles while including future photo opportunities.
Jim